Sudan provides OVL three more oil and gas blocks for exploration

Tuesday, 02 February 2016 07:23

Sudan has offered Blocks 8, 15 and 24 for exploration of oil. (Image source: curraheeshutter)The Sudanese government has provided Indian-based ONGC Videsh (OVL) three more oil and gas blocks for exploration and production

The firm has invited Indian firms to set up a coastal refinery to increase fuel supplies to the African continent, it revealed.

“They have offered more oil blocks for exploration and asked for Indian companies’ expertise to raise production from existing fields,” oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said after having met at the 4th India-Africa Hydrocarbons Conference.

Awad stated Sudan has offered Blocks 8, 15 and 24 for exploration of oil and has asked OVL to consider buying a stake in producing Block 17.

“The issue of US$240mn pending dues was also discussed and modalities are being worked out for that,” he said.

Pradhan noted that Sudan plans for Indian firms setting up a coastal refinery to meet not just local fuel demand but also export to other African nations.

The Sudanese government said that it wants to raise output from the producing Block 17 and exploration areas nearby.